Our History

Our church was first established in 1923. Lets take a look at what happened during that time, to travel from new York to California it took 13 day, now it takes only two and a half days, our President was Calvin Coolidge, and the population of the united states of America was 100 billion and now it has reached over 301 million, this was also the year that the Yankee stadium was opened and the Hollywood sign was erected. The life expectantly in 1923 for males was 52 and for women was 54, today’s life expectancy for males is 75 and for women is 80.

These times where harsh and often unforgiving. But there was a missionary from lonesome dove Baptist church that made is way west and because of his ministry it brought the gospel to this area, eventually leading to the to the organization of Lake Drive Baptist church with bro. James L. Childes in the basement of turner Grade school, and he was the pastor for 3yrs, after him bro. A.B. Toby was the pastor for 1 yr, then R.W. Reed was the pastor for about 3 yrs, bro. R. S. Howard. was the pastor for 3 years also, then Bro B.A. Kimble pastored for 8 years, then Coy Latimer pastored 6 yrs, bro. Lonnie Cooper, was the pastor for about 1 year.

Then Dr. Brian Climans is where things started becoming interesting. They had a building off 27^th street and Bro Climans has the vision to move the church to its present location and also changing its name from Lake Drive Baptist church to Metropolitan Baptist Church . When the church originally purchased this property we are on now, 820 had not been built yet and this busy Azle Ave in front of the church was nothing but a two lane dirt road. Bro. Climans was the pastor for 21 yrs, then Jim Gillpe pastured for about 1 yr. then Dr. Hugh Adkisson served 26 yrs.

This is where many things began to happen as well. Bro. Larry was hired in 1972, and also in this time Metropolitans Faith Promise Missions was started, they came from supporting 4-5 missionaries to faithfully supporting 60-70 missionaries. This is when the sun never set on metropolitans missions. Then in the 80’s our church supported 5 missionaries from our own church.

In 1977 SMITE was created for those that wanted and needed to see missions first hand, this gave them a opportunity to see what missions was about. After Bro Larry came back from the mission field he was then called to become our pastor in 1996, also Travis was hired at the church.

Our church is full of unique and faithful people. I would like to share one with you, a lady by the name of Loyce Mercer, she was a dedicated teacher of the primary class. She would teach those kids bible lessons and bible stories. Then as she became older she began to loose her eye sight. it progressively got worse, to the point the she couldn’t even read her own bible. But she remained faithful in teaching those kids, even though she tcouldn’t read the scriptures when she taught she could use the scriptures hat she had hid her heart to remain faithful.

Our church has a heritage like no other and we have had outstanding members that where faithful to our Lord, and its only by Gods grace that we can celebrate this today. 86 yrs of advancing Gods Kingdom and its only by Gods Grace that we can go on for 80 more years, if he allows.